Dan often says I’m a social butterfly. That’s just how I am. I enjoy talking with others. Being friendly and getting to know other people’s stories. I like to smile and see where that takes me.
Plus, I hope that my smile puts you at ease. That’s because I realize that my wheelchair may make a person feel a little uncomfortable. And I understand that. Disability can be difficult to confront.
Talking about disabilities and life using a wheelchair will do more than increase awareness. It will make people feel more at ease when dealing with these realities. But having a conversation is a bit more difficult right now, between the COVID pandemic and today’s political climate.
It sometimes seems best to keep my mouth shut. Honestly, I sometimes wish other people would do the same.
I never think people intentionally mean to offend me, but it happens. And what bothers me the most, is that people don’t even realize they’re doing it when they talk to my caregiver rather than me or use phrases relating to me “being wheelchair bound.”
A few things that happened this past week made me wish I had printed copies of the article “I’m Not Broken Because I Use a Wheelchair” I wrote for MultipleSclerosis.net that I could hand out to people who are quick to judge or overlook who I am and why I need to use a wheelchair.
“… I’m not broken.
And for as much as those of us in the MS community are eager for others to understand what we’re going through, Dan and I are hoping for the same from people living with our disease.
We often hear people with MS say to us things like, “I’m afraid I’m going to end up in a wheelchair,” and I’m sitting right there.
Maybe they’re doing what I want them to do: See me and not my wheelchair. Or, maybe their fears supersede their sensitivity to present company. …”
So there. I kind of kept my mouth shut, right? I hope (and encourage!) you to check out the full article so you get a glimpse into my life in a wheelchair and why disabilities shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable.
Well said. You go girl!
Personally, when someone talks down to me, I enjoy giving them a gentle reminder by running over their toe with my wheelchair.
Thank you Jen for your tireless work for those of us with MS. You are a treasure (and Dan isn’t so bad either)!
Thank you, Doug! Coming from you, that’s such high praise and compliment. And such great advice on how I should respond to such comments in the future 😉 Take care, Jennifer